Pneumatic-control valve



April 28:1925. 1,535,833

C. H. HANSON PNEUMATIC CONTROL VALVE I l Filed Sept. 16, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 7- f J Zi/QWM;

April28, 1925.-

1,535,833 c. H. HANSON PNEUMATIC CONTROL VALVE Filed Sept. 1:5, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wucnloz Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

onmmon n. anson, or onroaoo, ILLINOIS, nssrsnon TO o'marLnYE-a con- POB-ATION, A conronnrron or nmuois.

rnnUM 'rIc-ooN'rnoL VALVE.

Application filed September 16, 1920} Serial No. 410,753.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON H. HANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ,6 of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic-Control Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of this invention is to provide a controlling device for governing the volume of air caused to be drawn through the tracker bar of a player piano. In the operation of the player piano it is customary to provide a suction device connected with the various pneumatics for actuating the keys. This invention is adapted for use with a suctiondevice in the nature of an electric motor and rotary fan enclosed in the casing and adapted to create a partial vacuum for actuating the pneumatics. W'hen the motor is running in such casing it is necessary that air be passed around and through thesame in order to avoid excessive heating. It is also desirable that this be in part at least of the same air which is drawn through the actuatorsof the piano, thereby affording economy both in construction and operation. \V'hen such a motor is running for operating 3 the suction device, a substantially constant pressure vacuum is maintained. In many instances no provision is made for the tone gradation, that is, whereby the keys are struck forcibly or lightly to give loud or soft tones. Accordingly one ofthe purposes of this invention is to govern the amount of air drawn through the pneumatics to the suction device and so arrange this governing device that when the air from the pneumatics is partially shut off, a corresponding amount of air will be drawn from an outside source through the motor, whereby cooling of the motor is assured, thus avoiding the necessity of varying the speed of the motor. In. carrying out this object, I have provided a control valve in a passage leading from the pneumatics of the piano to the suction device, and in this passage I have provided between the valve and the suction de- 1 vice a supplemental air inlet, which is normally closed by a member yieldingly urged to its closed position, but adapted to automatically open upon the increase of suction, due to the closing or partial closing of the above mentioned valve (in the passage leading from the pneumatics). Thus the volume of air creating the tones may be varied at will by actually shutting oil the passage through which it flows, and at the same time an automatic device permits a substantially normal volume of air to pass through the suction device into the motor.

Still another object is to so arrange this control valve that it is ada ted for connection with pneumaticcontrol ing devices governing the operation of the player piano, such for example, as a pneumatic controlling the rewinding of the player roll and a pneumatic governing the switch for the motor of the suction device.

The drawings hereof illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, and the above and otherobjects will be made more clear in the following description which relates to the drawings. The essential characteristics of my invention are hereinafter summarized in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a playerpiano equipped with m invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the upper portion of the suction device to which my pneumatic controlling device is attached; Fig. 3 is a plan of the pneumatic controlling device on a still further enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the same; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail illustrating the opening of the supplemental air valve; Fi 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in tie nature of a plan of the suction device and controlling means, showing an arrangement of connections with pneumatics governing the operation of the player piano; Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section of a suction device embodying my invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the suction device with. which my invention is particularly adapted for use may be attached beneath the key board of a piano, designated A, and arranged to be concealed by the usual vertical panel beneath the key board. The device is indicated at 1, as suspended on resilient supporting straps 2, and as having a main connection 5 leading from the usual air chest 6 to the suction'device. This air chest 6 is connected, of course, with the tracker bar over which the player roll 7 passes, governing the various pneumatics actuating the keys of the piano. A cord designated 8 aperture 15 of the. suction device is a spring operated valvecomprising a plate 32, a rod may contain the'electric wire for connecting the suction device with any standard elec In the the present invention isnot' limited to use with, any particular construction of suction device proper. I i

The passage leading from the'air chest to the suction device may, comprise any suitable tube connected' with a tubular extension 10,-joining a chambered body member 12,- flan'ged at 13, and secured to a. cover member 14 of the suction device, through which an "opening 15 is formed to complete the inlet to the suction device. Mounted in the tubular extension 10 is shown a butterfly valve 17, mounted ona rock shaft 16 extending outside of the passage through bearings indicated at 18, andturned upwardly to forni a rockarm 20. Connected on the rock arm 20 by a pivot screw 22 is shown a block 24, in turn adjustable by means of a screw 25 along an actuating rod 26. This rod is shown connected with one of the control levers at 30, usually provided at the key board of the piano; the rod being connected to the lower end of the lever may be controlled manually while operating the piano, or may beset in a given position,

thus moving the butterfly valve to any positionfrom' full open to full closed.

Intermediate the butterfly valve and the 33 and a spring 34. Theperiphery of the .plategextends beneath the inner edge of a flanged member or cover plate 35, which as shown inFig. 4, may be secured to the top ofjthe chamberedbody member 12. This cover plate 35 is preferably an annular member having a diametricallypositioned connecting bar 36, thus forming a spider in which the rod33 is slidably mounted. A layer of porous fabric, preferably piano felt 37, extends across the annular cover plate .35 and serves somewhat in the nature of a gasket, while another layer of felt 38 is secured to the upper surface of the plate 32 and is adapted to be held in abutting en gagement with the-layer 37 ,A stop collar '39 may beadjusted by the set screw40, and imal'y abut one end of the spring 34, whereby 'the' fabric layer '38 is constantly urged toward the layer 37.

'wTSince the butterfiywalve is manually op- ..erable, the pressure in. the tube between the tracker bar and the butterfly valve may be varied at will. However, the pressure in the chamber intermediate.thevalve and'the suction device is adapted to remain constant by reason of the fact that the spring actuated valve counterbalances any variation in pressure that may be effected by the manual operation of the butterfly valve. Whenever the butterfly valve is moved to a closed or partially closed position, the vacuum in the chambered member increases to an extent sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 34, thereby causing the plate 32 to be moved downwardly and air to be sucked into the chamber through thejporous layer 37. Fig. 5 is a detail view showingthe plate in a lowered position, and in this view the arrow indicates the path of the incoming air.

.With such an arrangement then, the amount of air passing through the chambered body and, therefore, through the suction device remains substantially constant, and is not materially affected by variations in the volume of air passing throughthe tracker bar.

Leading from the constant pressure chanrber '12, there are two outlet members 41 and 42, one of which leads to a pneumatic mechanism indicated generally at 43, while the other outlet may lead to a pneumatic cutoff switch 44. The rewinding mechanism 43 I is contained within the housing 46andis operable by the passage of'air through tubes .45 and 47 whlch are arranged to be connected with the tracker bar and theconstant pressure chamber, respectively. Since thev tube 47 leads into the constant pressure chamber 12, the pneumatic rewinding motor is set in motion whenever the aperture in the tracker bar, to which the tube 45 is connected, is uncovered, in the usualmanner, that is, when the player roll is entirely unwound, o

The automatic'cutoif switch is also provided with a tube 48 which may be operatively connected to an aperture in the tracker bar. A pneumatic bellows 49 may be positioned onthe housing 50, and be 0perated by the air passing throughthe tube 48, the tube 51 and the constant pressure chamber 12. pressed, a cutoff rod 52 is'moved downwardly to actuatea switch within the member 44. This switch is connected in series with the lead lilies 8 to control the operation of the suction device. The cutoff switch is actuated whenever the aperture to which the tube 48is connected is uncovered, "and this is effected 'whenever the rewinding .mech'anism removes the roll from contact with the tracker bar. In operation, I the operator inserts the player roll inthe customary manner and covers the tracker bar with a part of the roll-before starting the motor, and a. suitable switch is turned to start the suction device, whereupon the roll is pulled across Whenever the bellows is coma player piano, the combination with an electhe tracker bar and the pneumatics of the piano actuated through the lead tube 5-. lVhile the roll is in operation the force with which the pneumatics are actuated may be controlled by movement of the hand lever 30. IVhenthe'hand lever 30 is moved the butterfly valve 17 is moved accordingly to restrict the passage in the tube extension 10. Assuming that the butterfly valve is turned to a"partially closed position, then the vacuum produced within the chamber 12 tends to rise and to overcome the tension'in the spring 34. When the tension in the spring is overcome, the plate 32 is forced downwardly and air is admitted into the chamber 12 through the porous material 37. By regulating the tension in the spring 34, the auxiliary valve may be so adjusted that any manipulation of the lever 30 causes in stant eflect upon the actuating pneumatics of the piano. When the roll is entirely unwound, air passes through the tube and causes the rewinding motor to be set in operation, and as soon as the rewinding mechanism has entirely removed the roll irom't'he tracker banair passes through the tube 48 and cuts'ofl the current to themotor which operates the suction device,

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a device which is capable of varying the pressure on the actuating pneumatics of a piano without 'decreasing'the volume of air which passes through the suction device; that I have provided a 'rewinding mechanism' and an electric switch which may be operated independently of the pressure acting upon the actuatingpneumatics of the piano, and that I have rovided a mechanism which may be attached to any manually or electrically operable suction device.

- Having thus described my invention, I claim: I l

l 1. In a suction mechanism for operating a player piano, an electricallydriven motor and fan suction device, means whereby the air impelled by the fan is caused to flow past the motor for cooling purposes, a hollow member attached to the suction device, a tube projecting laterally from the memher and connected with the wind chest of the player piano, means for closing the passageway in the tube by varying degrees and a yieldingly operated valve opening to the atmosphere intermediate said means and the suction device, whereby the air passing through the device remains constant in volume independentlyo-f the volume of air b flowing through said wind chest.

2. In a suction mechanisnr for operating trically driven motor and fanisuction device having an inlet aperture adjacent the top thereof, of a hollow member positioned over the aperture and having a passagewaylcad ing to the wind chest of the player piano, :1 valve-for varying the pressure in the passageway and means connected with the key board of the piano for manually operating said valve, whereby the air passing through the device remains constant in volume independently of the volume of air flowing throu h said wind chest. i

3. n combination, a suction device, a flanged'member rigidly secured to the device and having a passageway leading to the wind chest of a playerpiano, means for manually varying the volume of air flowing thru the passageway, said member having an aperture intermediate the valve and the suction device, and yielding means for nor: mally effecting a closure of the aperture, said last mentioned means being 0 erable to permit a constant volume of air pass thru the suction device.

4. In combination, a suction device, means carried by the device for connecting it to the wind chest of a player piano, means for manually controlling the air passing thru said connection, a valve, a spring for nor.- mally holding the valve in a closed position, means for adjusting said spring whereby the valve may be opened to permit a constant volume of air to pass thru the suction device, whenever the manually operable means restricts the volume flowing thru the connecting means.

5. In a' suction mechanism for operating a player piano, the combination with ah electrically driven suction device, of va casing having an aperture therein and posi- :tioned across the inlet port of said device, said casing having. a passage-leading therefrom and connected with the tracker bar of a player piano, leading directly to the outside air, a valve mounted in said casing, said valve comprising a flat closure member inside the casing. a layer of porous material rigidly secured to the inner wall of said casing, and means for constantly urging the closure member against the layer of porous material, whereby a constant volume of air is caused to flow through the suction device independently of the volume flowing through said passage. j

v6. In a suction mechanism for operating a? play r pian the combination with a su tion dev ce embodying a motor and fan 11nit,said d vi ha ing n ape u th r in l adi g -the a m sp r and havi g an opening therein connected with the tracker e of. a player piano, a membe extending across said aperture and projecting from the dev e, a p ate ass ci ted with sa d m mber,

means for holding the plate in abutting engagement with th member, sa d means being ac u t d to m ve t e p at in dly by the diff rence in air pressur etwe n the interior and exterio tsaid member,

and having an opening mechanism is connected. 4

' through said passage.

. 7. In asuction mechanism for operating a player piano, the combination with a suction device having an opening leading to the atmosphereand havingan aperture connected with the tracker bar of a-player piano,.of a valve for normally: closing said opening, said valve comprising a spindle, a plate, a layer of porous material between the spindle and plate, and aspring for holding the plate in abutting engagement with the spindle. f

, 8. In combination, a wind chest, a suction deviceconnected therewith, a hollow casing intermediate-the wind chest and. the. suction device, said casing having passages leading therefrom,.one of said passages being 'co n nected with a rewind-ing mechanism.

9. In combination, a suction device, a tube extending therefrom and connected with the operating pneumatics of a player piano, a member intermediate the tube and. the suctiondevice, said member having a constant pressure chamber, tubes leading therefrom, one of said-tubes being connected with a pneumatic-switch. i

In combinatiom-a suction device, a hollow member. connected thereto, passages leading from said member, one of said. passagesbeing connected with the. wind chest of a player piano, another of said passages being connected with. a pneumatic switch, means for varying the pressure in the passage connected with the wind chest, and means for maintaining constant pressure in the passage to whichthe switch is connected. 11. In combination, a suction. device, a .member connected thereto, passages leading from said member, one of said passages be 'ing connected with the. wind chest of a player piano, another of said passages being connected with a pneumatic frewinding mechanism, means for varying theipressure in the passage connected with the wind chest, and means for maintaining constant pressure in the passageto whichthe rewinding 12%111 combination, a fan suction device, a

vhollow-member carried thereby, said member comprising abody portion having an aperture leading to the atmosphere, a passage leading from the body portion and connected with the wind chestof a player; piano and means for manually controlling the ressurein said assa 'e and means for efb 7 fe'cting a yielding automatic closure over the: aperture for permitting a constant volume of air to pass through the device independently'of-the volume of air flowing 13. In combination, a hollow casing connected to a suction device, said casing com- 'p'r-1s1ng a body portion havingan' aperture therein, means for maintaining a constant pressure within the casing, a passage leading from the body portion and connected with 'nected to a pneumatic switch,

- 14. Incombination, a casing rigidly connected to asuction device, saidcasing having an aperture therein leading to the atmosphere, means comprising a spring actuated valve normally effecting a closure over said aperture, a tube leading from said casing and connected to the. wind chest of a player, piano, a valve intermediate the easing andthe wind chest, means for manually operating the last mentioned valve. 15. In combination, a casing connected to a suction device, means comprising a spring volume of air to "pass thru said casing, a tube leadingfrom said casing and .con-

nected to the wind chest'of a player piano,-

piano, a valveintermediate said housing and i the wind chest, means for manually oper-- ating the valve, saidhousing having an.

aperture to. admit air into the suction device,

'means for normally closing said aperture,

tubesleading from the body portion, means for connecting one of said tubes with a rewinding mechanism, andv means for connecting another of said tubes to a pneumatic switch.

hollow member having. a-flanged body portion for securing-it tothe suction device, a passage leading from said member and connected with the wind chest ofa player piano, a valve intermediate saidmember and the wind chest, a lever carried on the keyboard ofth'e piano and connectedwith said actuated valve for permitting a constant 17. In combination, a suct on device, a

valve, said member having an apertureto' admit air into'the suction device, a-porous diaphragm for normally closing said aper,-- 'ture, a pressure actuated-valve engaging said diaphragm, and tubes leading-fromthe body portion, oneof said tubes beingcon- 18. In combination,fla suctionidevice a hollow member connectedtherewith, a pas- -.sage leading from the member and-connected with. the operating pneumatics of a player piano, for manually controlling the valve,

member having an .aperture intermediate i a valve within the passage, means said the valve and the suction device to admit air therein, a layer of porous material extending across the aperture, a plate adapted .to abut said layer, means for constantly urging said plate against the layer and tubes leading from the body portion and adapted to be connected with a rewinding mechanism and a cutoff switch, respectively.

19. In combination, a suction device, a casing connected thereto, a passage leading from the member and connected with the operating pneumatics of a player piano, a valve within the passage, a lever, a pitman connecting the lever with the valve, said mem- 15 her having an aperture intermediate the valve and the suction device to admit air therein, a layer of porous material extending across the aperture, a plate adapted to abut said material, a spring for constantly urging said plate against the material, an adjusting collar abutting said spring and passages leading from the body portion and adapted to be connected with a rewinding mechanism and a cutoff switch respectively.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

CLINTON H. HANSON. Witnesses:

BERNIOE PIKE, AMANDA SIEBERT. 

